On April 1, 2020, a census will be taken of all persons living in the United States. It is important that every Illinois resident be counted so our state population accurately reflects our needs. While many Illinoisans will answer the census questionnaire when it arrives, some demographics are consistently undercounted due to low participation. Among the groups historically undercounted in the census:
- Veterans
- Minority communities
- College students
- Foreign born Illinois residents (documented and undocumented)
- Retirees spending the summer in Illinois and winter in warmer climates
- Farm families residing in rural counties
- Persons living in large housing units or apartment complexes
- Children under age 5
- Homeless individuals
The importance of participating in the census cannot be understated. Responses to the census questionnaire are kept confidential by the U.S. Census Bureau. The information is not shared with other federal or state government agencies.